Shade-controller.



H. F. RICHTER.

SHADE CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1913.

1,104,22 1 Patented July 21, 1914.

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HERMAN r. 'nrcnrna, or LOS enennns, cnnrronnrn, Assienon. T0 rrrnns SHADE GUIDE COMPANY, or Los ANGELES, FORNIA.

CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALI- SHADE-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed July 14, 1913.

Fatenteol July 21, 1914. Serial No. 778,856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, HERMAN F. RICHTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Shade-Controller, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device adapted to he used for preventing a shade from being unrolled too far and accidentally torn from the shade roller, and for preventing the shade roller. from winding up the shade any farther than complete raised position of the shade, thus obviating accidental unwinding of the spring or damage to the shade should the shade slip out of the hand while being adjusted. 7

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a shade roller and shade equipped with the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of a corner portion of what is shown in Fig. 1, with part broken away. Fig. 3 isa plan view of what is shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the shade removed from the shade rollerand the sh'ade'roller turned one quarter from its position in Fig. 3. F ig. 5 is a side elevation of the upper portion partly in section. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line ac -w Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a perspective in detail of one of the spring fingers. Fig. 8 is a perspective of the adjustable stop lug.

l designates the shade roller which is rotatably mounted at each end in brackets 2 of the usual or any preferred construction. 3 is the shade secured to the shade roller in any desired manner.

4 designates a spring finger which is shown in detail in Fig. 7 and is formed integral with a base 5, the latter having an out-turned loop 6 through which projects the end of the finger and which acts to guide the finger4 whereby the projecting end of the finger is retained in its proper position on the shade roll and also limit the outward spring The base 5 has perforated ears 7 which are bent to conform to the shade roller 1 and which may be secured thereto by screws or tacks, as shown. The other end of the base 5 is perforated at 8 to receive a fastening tack or screw. In the present embodiment, I have shown two of such spring fingers located at one end of the shade roller in such a manner that the springfinger 4 projects beyond the edge end of the roller, but it should be understood that a greater or less number of spring fingers could be employed if, desired. The

spring fingers are thin, broad and fiat, so

that the shade can be rolled over them to spring them in fiush with their bases 5 without causing the shade to appreciably bulge and by reason of the wide construction of the spring fingers, there is no tendency to split or tear the shade, as a considerable area of it is covered by the spring finger. This also prevents a tendency to stretch the shade at the edge which is apt to occur if a narrow spring finger is employed.

Secured to the bracket 2 is an adjustable stop lug 9, the end of which, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6, lies at some distance from the periphery of the shade rollerso that ifthe spring fingers 4 are sprung down into contact with the shade roller they will freely pass by the stop lug 9 without contacting therewith. The stop lug 9 projects from a plate 10 which is slotted at 12 and is preferably secured in position by a screw 13 which screw also serves to retain the bracket 2 in position; This construction permits the stop lug 9 to be adjustedlongi: tudinally with respect to and it should be so "adjusted as shown in Fig. 4,that it will lie within the path of movement of the spring fingers when they are extended.

When the shade roller is wound up it springs the fingers 4 down flush with their the shade roller,

bases 5 so that whilethere is at least enough shade wound on the roller to cover the spring fingers, they will be prevented from coming in contact with the stop lug 9, but if the shade be almost entirely unwound enough" to uncover the next one or both spring fingers, it will allow one or both spring, fingers to spring outward and strike against the stop lug 9, thus preventing the shade from being further unwound, and thereby obviating the shade from bein torn ofi. Thus, the spring fingers should e so arranged that the shade will still be wound partially on the shade roller after the spring fingers are released, which will give sufiicient grip on the roller to prevent it from being torn ofi.

In order to prevent the shade from being wound up beyond a full open position, I employ two projecting arms 13 which are secured to opposite sides of the lower bar 14-, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 and are adapted to strine against the brackets 2 and limit upward movement of the shade after it has arrived at the top o1 the window, as indicated in Fig. 1. Thus, if the shade should accidentally escape from the hand, it will fly up to the top, but will not allow the shade roller to further unwind, as the arms 13 will strike brackets 2 and positively prevent such movement.

l ihat I claim is:

1. in combination with the shade roller and shade secured thereto, a broad plate of sheet metal secured to the shade roller, said plate being slit to form a spring finger, the outer end of the plate being formed as a closed loop bent at right angles to the main portion the plate and forming a guide for the spring fingers and limiting its out ward movement, and a stationary stop lug in the path of movement of said spring finger when the finger is extended.

2. In combination with a shade roller and shade thereon, a pair of broad thin plates secured to the shade roller near one end thereof, on opposite sides of the shade roller, each broad plate being slit to form a spring tongue, the outer end of the plate being bent at right angles to form a closed loop through which the said tongue projects, and a stationary stop lug adapted to arrest either of said spring fingers and stop rotation of the spring roller.

3. In combination with a shade roller and shade thereon, a broad thin spring linger secured to the shade roller and adapted to be held against the shade roller when the shade is wound thereon, a stationary stop adjacent the end of the spring finger and in the path of movement thereof when the spring finger is allowed to spring away from the roller, said stationary stop comprisa slotted plate with a lug bent at right angles thereto, and a screw through the slotted plate.

s. In combination with the shade roller and shade secured thereto, a plate of sheet metal secured to the shade roller, a spring finger formed on said plate, a member formed on said plate adapted to guide the projecting end of said finger and to limit the outward movement thereof, a stop adapted to be en aged by the projecting end oi said finger when the shade is unwound and the projecting end of the linger is swung outwardly, to arrest the unwinding motion 01'? the shade roller.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California this 27 day of June 1913.

HERMAN F. RICHTER.

in presence of- Gno. T. HACKLEY, Lona M. Bownns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ZPetenta.

Washington, D. C." 

